Author Archives: By Quiet Waters

Beyond the Book Report from Analytical Grammar GIVEAWAY!

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

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Analytical Grammar and Junior Analytical Grammar gave our daughters a firm footing in the world of English grammar.  This summer I’ve been researching ideas for writing/composition for the upcoming school year and received an email from AG that they have written Beyond the Book Report, a middle school language arts program the will mesh well with the 3 seasons of Analytical Grammar.

There are 3 seasons of Beyond the Book Report, and it is scheduled much like Analytical Grammar.  As a matter of fact, AG’s website has a couple different schedules put together.

Season 1 of Beyond the Book Report includes three different sections:

The Basic Book Report
– Concepts introduced:
    Following a rubric
    Conflict, Point of View, Climax, Protagonist,Antagonist
    Paraphrase and summary
– Activity:
    Watch video lecture on literary terms
– Final Product (100 pt total):
    Reading Log
    Plot summary
    Paraphrase of favorite scene
    Study questions or crossword
    Literary Terms worksheet

The Pamphlet Book Report
– Concepts introduced:
    Elements of the plot, mood and tone, setting, genre
– Activity:
    Watch second video lecture on literary terms
– Final Product (100 pt total):
    Reading log
    Pamphlet about the book (60 pts)
    Study questions or crossword

The News Article Book Report
– Concepts introduced:
    Headline, byline, dateline, inverted pyramid, lead
    Objectivity, bias, objective point of view
– Activity:
    Watch video lecture on news writing
    Nursery rhyme news
    Exercise in bias detection
– Final Product (100 pt total):
    Reading log
    News article on favorite scene
    Opposite bias news article, same scene
    Study questions/crossword

This is a solid writing curriculum that fits beautifully with the Analytical Grammar system and…

We have ONE COPY of Beyond the Book Report to giveaway this month!  The package will include

  • A computer DVD with video lectures for the teacher with specific day-by-day instructions for teaching the unit

  • All necessary hand-outs and notes

  • Foolproof grading rubrics that provide the student with “recipes” for writing and specific feedback for improvement 

    • The curriculum will be sent out by Analytical Grammar at the close of this giveaway ~ please make sure you check back for a winners announcement and respond to my email if you are the winner!

    http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7f80ff5/” rel=”nofollow”>a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Coffee for a Reason & GIVEAWAY

    10 Wednesday Jul 2013

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    I first heard of World’s Greatest Beans and Bring Love In  from Mary over at Owlhaven.  While I didn’t enter the giveaway, I did visit World’s Greatest Beans on their facebook page.

    From there I learned about the work Levi & Jessie Benkert are doing on behalf of orphans in Ethiopia.  Here is a brief video explaining just what that is.

    “>

    World’s Greatest Beans sells imported TOMOCA coffee with the intention to provide Ethiopian small businesses with revenue, jobs and hope.  They also partner with Bring Love In.

    To bring more attention to World’s Greatest Beans and Bring Love In, I was sent ToMoCa coffee beans to try and to GIVE AWAY!  Let me tell you, this coffee is delicious.  We’ve enjoyed it so much more than our regular coffee.


    Here are the details
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Happy Independence Day 2013!

    04 Thursday Jul 2013

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    Hoping you are enjoying this Independence Day with ones you love.
    Remember to give thanks to the Lord for the freedom that we are celebrating this day.

     

    pursuing better

    01 Monday Jul 2013

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    every flood of trouble remakes the landscape of your souls – making you better or bitter.
    every trouble is like a flood and you can either rise up on it or sink down in it –
    And here is where I’ve found that the practice of giving thanks, day after day, month after month, year after year for 4+ years, is laying down the rails.  By practicing gratitude and recording the gifts my eyes are focused on looking for God’s presence in the flood, even in the fire.
    I’ve mentioned before that I come from a long line of bitter women.  My mother once warned me years ago to not let bitterness take root.  For several years I prayed for relief from the bitterness that soured my eyes.
    Giving thanks has been the antidote.
    Anytime that sour taste rises in my throat and my eyes squint, I hear the question, where is grace in this?  And the hunt begins.
    A smattering of gifts found in the time of June fire and smoke;
    Frozen yogurt & daughters to share with
     A long walk through the neighborhood, with flower blooming all around
     Smoke free days after so many fires sent the smoke all over the Colorado front range
    Books selling, successful garage sale adding to the mission fund
    Popsicles and funny girls
    Rain in the middle of the night, pattering on the sky light
    Smoke clearing for the night of the Great American Backyard Campout
    Cloud art around the moon as I lay in the top coverless tent
    Joining in the chorus

    Reading Update ~ The First 6 Months

    30 Sunday Jun 2013

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    As with any worthwhile endeavor, one must be purposeful to make time to read good books.  Several years ago I began to realize this and have tried to make sure time to read is built into my days.  This month I am excited to reflect on the books that have passed time with me the first half of 2013.

    Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick

    The Mine by Henry McIntosh

    Freefall to Fly by Rebekah Lyons

    Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer

    In the Presence of My Enemies ~ by Gracia Burnham and Dean Merrill

    Tales of the Defended Ones by Beth Guckenberger. 

    Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic

    Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

    Jessica’s First Prayer by Hesba

    The Promise Box by

    The Cat that God Sent by Jim Kraus

    Cleaning House, A Mom’s 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma, my response here

    The BARE NAKED TRUTH, Dating, Waiting, and God’s Purity Plan by Bekah Hamrick Martin, my review here

    Sparkly Green Earrings: Catching the Light at Every Turn ~ Melanie Shankle

    Children’s books

    Rock You Tonight by Emily Roussell ~ a sweet story that seems to be written more for the Momma than the little one she may be reading to.

    The Three Little Rabbits and the Bake Sale Pie by Nancy Nuce ~ a story that had Mae and I laughing hard at bedtime.  Delightful

    Only the Mountains do not Move by Jan Reynolds

    Jessica’s First Prayer by Hesba Stretton

    Audiobooks
    Because He Loves Me (I listened while driving and reread the chapters on my kindle app)

    Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr

    Speak Life

    29 Saturday Jun 2013

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    The message in Thursday’s short post was in my email box earlier this week.  A sweet woman who has stepped in as a Godly mentor and encourager sends me messages like this from time to time.  I’m not sure she understands how lifegiving her words are to me.
     
    My own mother has disappeared into the depths of early onset Alzheimer’s.  And even before that happened, there was very little “mother to daughter” torch passing.  God brought my mom a long way from the person she was, having grown up in the home that she did.  And she spoke life in the ways that she knew. 

    In this season where my mom is close by in a care facility, and we have 3 teen and preteen daughters at home AND our older daughter her daughter live with us, I often feel just swamped.  Linda speaks into this wonderful, hard, good, full crazy life of mine, in simple quiet ways, never asking for a response or reply. 

    Each time Linda speaks into my life, a balm is applied.  She didn’t wait to be asked, she hasn’t asked if it is “okay”, she just speaks.

    Thank God for this precious older woman.  Linda, since I know that you read this blog from time to time, Thank You.

     

    This Moment ~ Time with Mae

    28 Friday Jun 2013

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    {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 
     

    Last weekend Mae and I had the opportunity to pass about 18 hours together, just the two of us.  We watched a couple “big kid” movies (Captain America and Pirates of the Carribean), went out for dinner and shared our meals, and explored Pier One.  It is very rare for any 2 people in our family to get time like this and I am very thankful.

    Validation

    27 Thursday Jun 2013

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    “I don’t really look to other mothers for validation on how I’m doing as a parent. I look to my children and my husband. If they are generally happy, relaxed, comfortable and engaged, I feel pretty good about how I’m doing….

    “If I see signs of frustration or stress or uneasiness in my family, there are alarm bells going off inside me telling me I need to be kinder, pay extra close attention, have more ideas, and offer more options.”

    —Rippy Dusseldorp